KENT ST: The Golden Flashes will have no problem defending teams this season, but then again that wasn't their problem last season when they posted a losing record yet again. It's been over 10 years since Kent State posted a winning record and it will again be up to the offense to help them do that. QB Spencer Keith must take care of the ball and finally get an offense moving that struggles to put points on the board. RB Trayion Durham turned some heads this spring when he showed up 15 pounds lighter than he was a year ago. They'll need contributions from him and WR Tyshon Goode if they are going to come anywhere close to matching the production of their defense. The defense gets back its leading tackler, Luke Batton (102 tackles), its leading pass rusher, Jake Dooley (5 sacks) and its best pass defender, S Luke Wollet (4 INT).

ARMY: Army seemingly was on the right track after playing in a bowl game in 2010, but the loss of a stew of starters forced a young, inexperienced group of players to play big minutes before they were ready. This season, that youth has a lot more experience and should improve upon a disappointing 3-9 season. Fourth-year starting QB Trent Steelman (3 TD, 2 INT; 645 rush yds, 12 TD) is back after a season plagued by injuries that kept him off the field for three games. The Knights had the nation's leading rushing attack (347 YPG) and they'll get back RBs Raymond Maples (1,066 rush yds, 7.3 YPC, 4 TD) and Jared Hassin (450 rush yds). The offensive line will be a solid group, as they will be starting four seniors. Defensively, Army is losing only three starters, so the unit that was on the field last season (164 pass YPG allowed, 5th in nation) had an entire year to grow together.